Erin McKenzie Virtual Welcoming Blog

This virtual welcoming blog promotes learning, discovery, and to confirm and challenge old notions with new ones. It encourages conversations and facilitates our discovery of one another's cultures, experiences, and struggles and how we are connected; to celebrate the gifts and talents in each of us; and to help us build inclusive communities where all are valued.

Monday, August 20, 2012

The 2012 TASH Conference in Long Beach, California, Nov. 28 - Dec. 1, 2012, features more than 200 workshops, sessions and posters on the latest research and best practices as well as in-depth discussions on a wide range of topics impacting the disability field.
Attendees at the 2012 TASH Conference will access:
• General Sessions, Concurrent and Poster Sessions on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
• Town Halls, Forums, Film Screenings and Special Events
• Wednesday and Friday Conference-Wide Receptions
• Conference Exhibit Hall
• Conference materials, including program and post-conference online resources
• Unlimited networking opportunities for self-advocates, professionals, students and family members to connect with peers and experts.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

“More than anything in the world, Pedro loved whales. He loved big whales. He loved grey whales. He loved small whales. He loved blue whales. But most of all, he loved his whale. It made him so happy.” Pedro’s Whale, by Paula Kluth and Patrick Schwarz, is a children’s book about a boy who can be taught, comforted, and motivated when his special interest is brought into curriculum, instruction, and the classroom, in general. And oh by the way, Pedro has autism. In her presentation, Dr. Cheryl Jorgensen will use the theme and text of this book to describe the values and practices that make schools places where everyone belongs and no one is left behind.

All are invited to this FREE event! For more information or to request an interpreter contact Lois Szudy at LSzudy@otterbein.edu

An Erin McKenzie Virtual Welcoming Space EventCo-sponsored byOhio TASH (Welcoming the Presence and Participation of All Citizens)and the Friends of the Otterbein University Courtright Memorial LibraryAdditional thanks to the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio for their support.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Barb...When I think of stories about community, I always think of what our family and many others learned from our daughter. Erin was a young woman with Down syndrome and her life demonstrated the rich connections and relationships that result from an inclusive learning community. Among her passions was theatre and she met and celebrated with many friends through that love. It began at Westerville South High School and introduced her to Otterbein University and many wonderful and reciprocal relationships with other theatre lovers! Real friendship often comes from our shared interests and passions and not our shared abilities.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Kelley…Sometimes we are in situations that are stressful or intense and that can help a group come together in community. In my visual I wanted to represent the members of my methods class who have come together largely because of our instructor and especially because of an activity that she facilitated. We each shared stories about ourselves and then reflected back to each other what strengths we heard from those stories about each of us. It has helped to create a supportive learning community.

Some Things to Think About…How do we create welcoming communities where each person can feel comfortable and supported? Are we open to discovering the gifts in each person? Do we see the glass as half full or half empty?